The Anvil was designed to be a powerful scatter weapon that is most effective in close-quarters battle and lethal at point-blank range. Although the weapon has a slower rate of fire than most infantry weapons, it reloads faster than most due to its quick-loading charges.

The Anvil utilizes the Mk2 Electromagnetic jacketing system. Each 20-gauge slug (filled with titanium bearings) is coated in a harmonically tuned electromagnetic field, which wreaks havoc with enemy shielding, armor, and flesh at close range.